said:

'Is this true? and is Dschemila not dead at all, but simply stolen from
her home?'

'No, no,' replied they, 'his story is a pack of lies. Dschemila is
really dead. Everybody knows it.'

'That I shall see for myself,' said Dschemil, and, snatching up a spade,
hastened off to the grave where the goat's head lay buried.

And they answered, 'Then hear what really happened. When you were away,
she went with the other maidens to the forest to gather wood. And there
she found an iron mortar, which she wished to bring home; but she could
not carry it, neither would she leave it. So the maidens returned
without her, and as night was come, we all set out to look for her, but
found nothing. And we said, "The bridegroom will be here to-morrow, and
when he learns that she is lost, he will set out to seek her, and we
shall lose him too. Let us kill a goat, and bury it in her grave, and
tell him she is dead." Now you know, so do as you will. Only, if you go
to seek her, take with you this man with whom she has spoken that he may
show you the way.'

'Yes; that is the best plan,' replied Dschemil; 'so give me food, and
hand me my sword, and we will set out directly.'

But the stranger answered: 'I am not going to waste a whole month in
leading you to the castle! If it were only a day or two's journey I
would not mind; but a month--no!'

'Come with me then for three days,' said Dschemil, 'and put me in the
right road, and I will reward you richly.'

'Very well,' replied the stranger, 'so let it be.'

For three days they travelled from sunrise to sunset, then the stranger
said: 'Dschemil?'

'Yes,' replied he.

'Go straight on till you reach a spring, then go on a little farther,
and soon you will see the castle standing before you.'

'So I will,' said Dschemil.

'Farewell, then,' said the stranger, and turned back the way he had
come.

It was six and twenty days before Dschemil caught sight of a green spot
rising out of the sandy desert, and knew that the spring was near at
last. He hastened his steps, and soon was kneeling by its side, drinking
thirstily of the bubbling water. Then he lay down on the cool grass, and
began to think. 'If the man was right, the castle must be somewhere
about. I had better sleep here to-night, and to-morrow I shall be able
to see where it is.' So he slept long and peacefully. When he awoke the
sun was high, and he jumped up and washed his face and hands in the
spring, before going